Portable road sign



April 11,1933 H. G. SENS-SENEY, JR

PORTABLE ROAD S IGN Filed Dec. 5, 1952 game/whom H. G. SENSENEY, Jr.

Patented Apr. 11, 1933 HARVEY G. mm new FLORENCE, sourn CAROLINA.

ronrnnrn noAn SIGN Application filed December 5, 1932. Serial No. 645,816.

My invention relates to a portable signal device.

When an automobile is wrecked, as when f running off of the road, a wrecking car is called to pull the same out of the ditch, or the like, and return it to the road. This operation frequently requires the wrecking car to be positioned across the road. This work is frequently done on dark nights, and 10 it not infrequently happens that another car is wrecked by driving into the wrecking car. Attempts have been made to overcome this difliculty by placing lanterns at suitable distances from the wrecking car, but these lanterns do not afford proper protection, as drivers mistake the same to indicate obstructions or holes in the roadway adjacent to the lanterns, and when passing the lanterns, do not appreciate the danger ahead. Some counties require that the wrecking crew carry two durable, cheap to manufacture, and readily portable. The driving means for theswinging arm is not only of simple construction, but serves to hold the swinging arm against perceptible swinging movements while the device is being transported.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, r

Figure 1 is a front elevation ofa signal device embodying my invention, Figure2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the same, parts in elevation,

3 3 .of Figure 2, and,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line line 4-4 of Figure 2.

l with luminous paint, so that the sa 111 b 'visibleat nigh Figure 4'is a horizontal section taken 1 on In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of 1llustrat1on is shown apreferredembodiment of my invention, the. numeral'5designates a base, which is preferably cylindrical,

and this base has a vertical elongated preferably cylindrical casing 6, rigidly attachedto the top of the same. The upper end of this casing isclosed by a cover 7 rigidly attached :6

thereto, and this cover is equipped with a handle 8, whereby the device may be conveniently carried. v

The numeral 9 designates a transverse horizontal rock shaft, journalled through open-, 6 ings formed in the casing 6, and spacing sleeves 10 are mounted upon thisrockshaft, within the casing 6. r r V Y The rock shaft 9 extends'to the exterior of the casing 6, upon its forward o'rtion, and a socket-11 is clamped thereto y a set screw 12, or the like, and this socket is rigidly attached to a swinging signal arm 12. This signal arm is provided at its upper end with a plate or disc 13, constituting a signal, element and havingthe Word Stop or the like, formed thereon. The letters constituting the word Sto-p? arepreferabl-y coated At its lower end, the arm12 has an illuminated signal element 14, rigidly attached thereto. This illuminated signal element may be in the form of an oil lamp, or an electric lamp, and preferably embodies a red;-

lens 15, for producing a red signal, visible at night. Upon the rear side ofthe lamp 14 I preferably provide a green lens 16, The

vinvention is in no sense restricted to the precise colors employed, as both lenses may be,-

7 red, or other colors used, as found advan tageo-us.

Mounted within the base 5, is aspring motor 17, of any well knownfor preferred type. This spring motor is wound by a handle 18,;-9 extending to the exterior .of the base 5.1 The spring motor embodies a vertical driving shaft 19, equipped with a vertical SocketQO, polygonal in cross-section, for receiving the lower endof a vertical shaft section .21,'such lower end being also polygonal in cross-sec tion. Arranged above and in alignmentwith the lower shaft section 21 is an upper vertical shaft section 22, which is adj ustably connected with the shaft section 21, to be raised and lowered with relation thereto, by means of a sleeve- 23, clamped to these shaft sections by set screws 24 and 25. The upper shaft section 22 is rotatable within a bearing 26, formed in a transverse bar 27, having av central flattened portion, and the ends of this bar are held within openings 28 formed in the casing 6, and may be spot-welded to the casing.

Mounted upon the upper end of the shaft section 21 is a' horizontal eccentric o-r cam 29, having a hub 30, clamped to this shaft bya set screw 31, or the like. This horizontal rotating cam is positioned within a yoke or inverted U-shaped member 32, and the distance between the arms of this member is slightly greater than the diameter of the eccentric, aflording a slight clearance. The

'yoke is provided centrally at its top with a sleeve or hub 33, and this sleeve or hub is clamped'tothe rock shaft 9 by means of a set screw 34, or the like. The yoke is therefore rigidly attached to the rock shaft 9, for turning movement therewith, and also coacts with the spacing sleeves 10, to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 9.

While I have shown and described the spring motor 17 as driving the shaft sections 21. and 22, yet the invention is not necessarily restricted to the use of a spring motor, as an electric motor might be used where electricity is available, but it will ordinarily be pre ferred to use a spring motor.

' The operation of the device is as follows The signal device is readily portable and may be carried by one man, engaging the handle 8. Two of these devices may be readily loaded into the wrecking car. When the location in the road is reached, the signal device is removed from the wrecking car, and

' is placed a suitable distance from the automobile, along the road. The spring motor 17 being wound up,'andthe lamp 15 being lit,

the operator imparts to the signal arm 12, a

swinging movement, and the spring motor will then rotate the eccentric 29. This eccentric, rotating within the yoke, will rock the same back and forth, which rocking movement is imparted to the rock shaft 9, which will, in turn, oscillate the signal arm.

Another driver approaching the signal device, will readily observe the swinging illumiinated signal element 15, and thus be advised of the danger. In the .day time, this signal element14 may or may not be illuminated,

as desired, and the signal'element 13 will then be visible. The signal element 14: is slightly heavier than the signal element 13,

and this causes the yoke 32 to remain in contact, at one arm, with the eccentric 29.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shownand described, is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subj oined claims. i f

vHaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim is V V r V 1. A portable signal device for use on roadways, comprising an upstanding casing having a base,'a handle connected with the upper end of the casing, a transverse rock shaft carried by the casing, a'motor mounted within the base, a longitudinal shaft extending through the casing and connected with the 2. A portable signal device for use on roadways, comprising an upstanding su t having a base, a transverse rock shaft carried by. the upper portion of the support, a motor carried by the base, a drive shaft extending longitudinally'of the support and driven by the motor, a horizontal eccentric element '-mounted upon the upper portion of the drive shaft, a vertical yoke carried by the rock shaft and receiving the eccentric element therein,

and a signal arm mounted upon the rock shaft 3 to be oscillated thereby.

3. A portable signal devlce use on roadways, comprising an upstanding casing, a

transverse rock shaft carried by the upper portion of the casing, a spring motor mounted in the lower portion of the casing, a drive shaft connected with ,the, spring motor and extending longitudinally, Within the casing, a horizontal eccentric element carried. by the upper portion of the driveshaft, a depending 7 vertical yoke mounted upon the rock shaft and receiving the eccentric element therein, means whereby the elevation of the ec entric element may be varied with relation to the yoke, and a signal arm carrid by the rock shaft to be oscillated thereby. p

, 4. A portable signal device foruse on roadways, comprising an upstanding casing, a longitudinal drive shaft arranged withinthe casing, a

rock shaft carried by the casing and arranged above the eccentric element, a yoke mounted upon the drive shaft and receiving the eccentric element therein, a signal arm mounted rockshaft. I p v 5. A portable signal device for use onroadways, comprising an'upstanding casing prohorizontal eccentric element mounted upon the drive shaft, atransverse upon the rockshaft, and'means t d i ranged within the casing and clam ed to the rock shaft, spacing sleeves mounte upon the rock shaft and arranged between the yoke and the casing, an eccentric element to oscillate the yoke, means to drive the eccentric element, and a signal arm mounted upon the rock shaft to be oscillated thereby.

6. A portable signal device for use on roadways, comprising an upstanding support having a base to be placed upon the roadway or the like and of suflicient area to prevent the ready tipping over of the support, a motor arranged adjacent to and carried by the base to increase the weight of the base, an oscillatory element mounted upon the upper portion of the support, a signal element moved by the oscillatory element, and driving connecting means between the motor and oscillatory element. 7

7. A portable signal device for roadways, comprising an upstanding support, a spring motor mounted upon the support near its lower end, an oscillatory element mounted upon the support near its upper end, a signal element moved by the oscillatory element, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the support and connected with the motor, and means operated by the drive shaft for actuating the oscillatory element.

8. A portable signal device for roadways, comprising an upstanding support, a motor mountedupon the support, an oscillatory element mounted upon the support, a signal element moved by the oscillatory element, and driving connecting means between the motor and the oscillatory element including an eccentric and yoke which have their axes of movements disposed at approximately a right angle.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

HARVEY G. SENSENEY, JR. 

